Chamber board opposes ZEN resource proposal

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors announced today that it is opposed to a proposal to create the Zero Emissions Nuclear (ZEN) Resource program.

The proposal is included in both Ohio House Bill 178 and Ohio Senate Bill 128.

The chamber stands among many business and environmental groups across the state — including Clean Energy Future, which is building a $1 billion power plant in Lordstown, with a second $1 billion plant potentially on the way — that have also voiced their opposition to the bills.

The ZEN program would require FirstEnergy Solutions’ Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear power plants to purchase zero-emissions nuclear credits and recover cost by imposing an increase on electric rates in FirstEnergy’s territory, which includes the Mahoning Valley.